Lacing for shoes or other articles



(No Model.)

I. S. McKENNEY. LAGING FOR snozs OR OTHER ARTICLES.

No. 478,519. Patented July 5, 1892.-

UNITED? ST TES FRAN LIN s. M 'C'KENNEY,

P TENT OFFICE.

or D lr'rno ijii, MI C'HIGA'N.

LAClNG FOR s oEs OR OTHER RTji'cLEs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,519, dated July 5, 1892. Application filed September 22, 18mm No. 365,709. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANKLINSMoKENNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Lacings for Shoes or other Articles; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, whichform a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in lacings for shoes and other articles of apparel; and it consists of the devices and appliances, their'combina tions and arrangements, as herein specified and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of a shoe to which my invention is applied, the same being shown unlaced. Fig. 2 is another View of a shoe embodying my invention, the same being shown laced up. Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line at m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a blank from which the loop is constructed, and Fig. 6 is a view of the same shaped to form the loop.

As applied to a shoe, I carry out my invention as follows:

A represents a shoe of ordinary construction, commonly provided with an inner facing-strip A and which may be provided with simulated button-holes, as shown at a.

B denotes my improved lacing-loop fastenings, each consisting of a loop-shank B, constructed from a blank, (shown in Fig. 5,) and an engaging-eyelet B The loop -shank is formed with an orifice b at the base end thereof and a tongue I), having a rounded terminal recess 1) in the edge, as shown. The base end of the loop-shank is further provided with points, said points preferably extending from the end and lateral margins thereof,as shown at b b and 11 When shaped to form the loop-shank, the tongue I) is bentover, bringing the edge of the recess 17 into substantial coincidence with the adjacent edge of the orifice Z).

In the application of the loop-fastening to the article of apparel the eyelet B is passed through said article and the orifice b of said loop, the under edge of the eyelet being upset to hold it in place, together with the loop- 5 5 shank,upon the article. The outer end of the eyelet B maybe variously formed within the scope of my invention. I contemplate, however, its formation into a simulated button-head, closing the outer tubular end of the eyelet effecting avery neat finish. It will be seen that when the eyelet has thus been engaged in place the end of the loop-shank at b is securely held in place in the operation of upsetting above described. As so secured to the article of apparelas to a shoe, for exampleit is evident that the loop-shank itself is concealed when the shoe is laced up.

D denotes a lacing-cord. In the application of the loop -fastenings B to the shoe I prefer to scallop'the' edge of the shoe to which they are attached and to arrange them in I each outer point of the scalloped edge, as shown in Fig. 1. This arrangement and application of my improved loop-fast-enings I prefer to provide only along the lower portion of the overlapping edge of the shoe. The surface of the opposite edge I prefer to provide with any desired loop-eyes E to engage the cord, said loop-eyes being arranged alter- 8o nately with the-loop-shanks B, whereby the single lacing-cord D may be more readily and freely rove back and forth in permanent engagement within the loop-shanks B and loopeyes E.

Alongthe upper portions of the two edges of theshoelprefertoprovide anyordinaryorsuitable external hooks F to take up the cord and complete the lacing of the shoe. It will be seen that this construction and arrangement, algo lowing the cordto be in permanent engagement with said loop-shanksand loop-eyes, permits the lower portion .of the shoe to be laced up quickly and readily by simply pulling upon the upper end of the cord.

The simulated buttonholes and simulated button-heads are located adjacent to each other on the outer face of the overlapping edge of the shoe, giving the full appearance and effect of. a button-shoe, yet overcoming all liability of wear and unsightliness occasioned by repeated acts of buttoning and unbuttoning the shoe in the customary way, thus efiecting greater neatness, durability,

and facility of fastening. At the lower portion not only are the loop-shanks concealed, but the cord, also, the cord passing out of concealment when the hooks F are reached, At the upper edge of the shoe any suitable cordfastener G is secured to engage and hold the cord. A more sightly button-head may thus be provided, which is never liable to disengagement with the article.

In lacing the shoe or other article and in Wearing the same, also, the strain is always distributed to the series of loop-shanks instead of being concentrated at any time upon I are effectually concealed. This combination and arrangement preserves or conforms to the desired style of a button-boot, while of much simpler and superior construction.

What Iclaim as my invention is 1. A loop-fastener blank consisting of a base having an aperture 1) and attaching prongs therein, and a tongue I), having a rounded terminal recess b in its edge, the terminal end being adapted to be bent over and secured by an eyelet passed through the said aperture, substantially as set forth.

2. The loop-fastening herein described, consisting of an eyelet and a loop-shank constructed with an orifice to receive the eyelet, a tongue provided with a rounded terminal recess, and integral points, said tongue bent over toward said orifice to form a loop, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANKLIN S. MCKENNEY.

WVitnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, JOHN F. MILLER. 

